CRST Malone (Flatbed Division) SUCKS!

Yeah, they still do the same thing. They'll have a truck go to Daktronics in Brooking, Ravens in Sioux Falls, or... I can't remember the name of the place where they manufacture the machinery cabs... and bring it into the yard. So it's always something of a crapshoot whether you'll live load out of the Falls, or whether you'll have to swap out for a preloaded trailer. I usually deal with Jake, but if a shipper or receiver is trying to screw me around, I know Doug's got my back. He makes things happen. Can't complain, all in all. If I were to buy my own truck, I think I'd try to get set up the way we're set up now, running for CRST via Olander.

 

If I lived out your way, I would probably try to get hooked up with Doug, too. I would expect that he still primarily runs I-80. It would be a bit more of a challenge for me living in the southeast, although I did run some loads for him. When I was with CRST Malone, I ran out of Birmingham. It worked well for me. However, at the time I ran I-40 and I-65, for the most part.

 

Let's see.. I've run..

Sioux Falls (preload) to Garland, TX
Honey Grove, TX to Cody, WY
Wasta, SD to Gayville, SD
Sioux Falls to Midland, TX
Odessa, TX to Florence, CO
Fountain, CO to Ulysses, KS
Ulysses, KS to Sioux Falls
Brookings, SD to Silver Spring, MD
Pittsburg, PA to Kansas City, Misery
Kansas City (both MO and KS - it was a split load) to Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls (preload) to Lynchburg, VA
Marion, VA to Waterloo, IA
Ames, IA to Platteville, CO
Denver, CO/Arvada, CO/Rapid City, SD (another split load) to Rapid City, SD/Pierre, SD/Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls to Miles City, MT
Spearfish and Whitewood, SD to Lake Norden, SD
Sioux Falls, SD to Frierson, LA
Delhi, LA to Glenpool, OK/Galesburg, KS/Hastings, NE/Huron, SD
Brookings, SD/Sioux Falls (another split load) to Greenbrier, AR/Fort Worth, TX
Oklahoma City, OK to Greeley, CO
Denver, CO to Sioux Falls

All roads lead to Sioux Falls. If I were still living in the Southeast, I'd probably run through another agent, as well. Well, no... If I were still living in the Southeast, I'd still be a sitework driver with my happy 4.33 rear end double framed heavy haul truck and home nightly (most of the time). But that aside..

 

Doug has found something that works for him. He can often get freight where others have problems.

 

Oh, yeah. I can definitely say that Sioux Falls is one place I never worry about having to sit at, although some haggling might be involved. They tried convincing me to take a Connecticut load. The rate was fair, but nothing spectacular, I would probably have to plan on deadheading a good distance out of there, and then there's the tolls. Ended up with one going to Irving, instead.

 

With me living in the Carolina's I will sometimes take a load up to Connecticut that pays the truck $2.50, but I go up there knowing that I will bounce back down to Pa. Lumber and slinkies is about all we get out of Connecticut, and it barely pays for your fuel.

 

I think that most of Doug's contacts are in the western part of the country. You have to weigh the rate with the available freight on the other end and other costs such as tolls. Once you are in the west, it is often easier to find better rates if you stay in the region rather than trying to get something heading east. If you are leased to CRST Malone and want to stay in the west, then Doug is a good one to call.

 

how's things going thus far I'm thinking about doing this but I'm not to sure. My wife on the doubting side she saying NO

 

Things are going good for me.......Worked 5 days last week, two days at the house and cleared $2200.....doesn't get much better then that. There is money to made here once you learn the system

 

How much do you or can you gross per month? Whats your average per mile?

Is the $2200 your net or gross and can you do that every week?